Monday, October 6, 2008

We Have the Same Teeth

For the last 2 days or so, I've been visiting with aunts, uncles, cousins, and cousins once removed. And eating cake. Did I mention the cake? Oh and eating fried seafood. Lots of fried seafood. Every restaurant we went to had hush puppies and sides of cheese grits. I love grits. I think they have 0 nutritional value. But they aren't really bad for you either.

When we lived in Boston, I was always trying to get my co-workers to eat grits. I mean they ate couscous, which has a similar texture, so why so pompously discriminating against grits? I guess I got to be a bit annoying with it because one day a co-worker said to me--"Are you on the National Grits Council or something?"

So, my whole family down south is fat. All of us. I feel closer to my dad's family in MO, as we have the same hearts and sentiments. But I share hips and stomach rolls with my mom's family in FL. I found out that several of them use a CPAP for sleep apnea (I go for a sleep test this Friday.) The nice thing was this, though, so many times when I was talking with one of them, I found myself thinking, Wow, he has really nice. straight teeth. It wasn't until I did this with at least 3 people and then went to bed, that it dawned on me--those are like my teeth! I have pretty teeth!

Seeing them--especially my mom and my aunt together--both in pain (with crankiness being the first visible sign of their pain) from spinal stenosis and arthritis made me feel all the more inspired to get more healthy. They already have more drive and energy than I do.

Not that I was working to get more healthy this past weekend as the start of this entry clearly shows. I started off OK. . . but slipped more each day. Still, I didn't go expecting to stay on track. In fact, I decided not to weigh at all before I went because it's too early in my trying to make changes. If I'd lost a little weight, then I knew the chances of me gaining it back over the weekend would be pretty high and the chances of me feeling bad at being back to "0" would be even highter. If I'd lost an impressive amount of weight, then I knew I'd feel stressed about not being able to stick with it away from home. Instead, I decided not to weigh until next Sat.

Plus, last week, Hubby & I walked a few nights but Trainer D and I never connected. With that and hanging out with the family, Hubby was nervous about my maginc switch turning to off! The trick I think will be finding time TOMORROW to plan some meals and get to the grocery store.

3 comments:

  1. Oh gosh many of us can identify with you and health really is so important yet seems so hard. But, if its to be we all know how to do it. We just have to want it hard enough and do it (yeah easy not).

    When you are away from home then you do relax your eating and thats ok as long as you get back into the program.

    You can inspire me. I love to cook cakes, love it but I always give them to my Dad who is skinny (because of his health not naturally) because I woul deat the lot. He devours them and it has no affect on his weight!

    As for teeth - let me tell you the FIRST thing I notice about someone is their teeth! Always have. I love a nice set of teeth. And having good healthy teeth will do good things for your overall health too! So keep finding the positive things you like about yourself.

    Great post and let us know how you are going. I am going on holidays soon so I am going to be so serious over the next six weeks - I want to have a bit of fun while away! But I will still bake cakes and pass them on.

    Great post and I identified with what you said in many ways! And somehow I bet I would love grits too (although never had them) because I sure love cakes and seafood.

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  2. Keep your eyes on the prize!

    I always slip up when I go home, too.

    So many family gatherings and events are all about the food. Who's bringing the cake, Sunday gravy with family...I wouldn't have it any other way, though!

    When I get back home it's penance time and salad.

    Keep your eyes on the prize!

    Peace - Rene

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  3. Thanks for your support Lilly & Rene!

    Lilly--You have amazing strength to be able to bake and give it away! I'd be eating at at least a serving from the batter!

    Rene--Just finished my salad. Great minds. . .

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